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Childhood Wonder in a Dangerous World

Little House on the Prairie

This thematic flow follows Laura's childlike awe as it survives fear and hardship, shaping her memory of the prairie year.

increasingupBearing stren­gth in each eventdowndecreasing
Laura Asks About the PapooseLaura Asks About the Papoose from "Little House on the Prairie". Laura Asks About the Papoose Scene Pa tells Laura about papooses, and she cannot stop asking when she will see one.
Laura Asks About the Papoose Scene Pa tells Laura about papooses, and she cannot stop asking when she will see one. The idea of a little brown Indian baby fills her imagination. Meaning The papoose becomes the symbol of all Laura does not yet know. Wonder pulls her toward the people her culture fears. Aftermath The question stays alive through the building of the house and the coming of the Indians.
The Friendliness of the Moon and StarsThe Friendliness of the Moon and Stars from "Little House on the Prairie". The Friendliness of the Moon and Stars Scene Laura lies under the open sky and thinks Pa could reach the stars.
The Friendliness of the Moon and Stars Scene Laura lies under the open sky and thinks Pa could reach the stars. The largest star appears to smile at her before she falls asleep. Meaning The experience shows how Laura's mind turns fear into companionship. The prairie is huge, but it is not always hostile to a child. Aftermath She carries the smiling star as a private comfort in the nights ahead.
The Secret Indian Camp and BeadsThe Secret Indian Camp and Beads from "Little House on the Prairie". The Secret Indian Camp and Beads Scene Pa leads Laura and Mary down into a hidden valley where Indians have camped.
The Secret Indian Camp and Beads Scene Pa leads Laura and Mary down into a hidden valley where Indians have camped. The girls find blue, red, and green beads shining on the ground and spend the whole afternoon gathering them. Meaning The camp is a place of enchantment, not fear. Laura's wonder transforms the trace of Indian life into a treasure hunt. Aftermath The beads become the center of a deep lesson about generosity, but the wonder of the afternoon remains first in Laura's memory.
The Indian Baby's Black EyesThe Indian Baby's Black Eyes from "Little House on the Prairie". The Indian Baby's Black Eyes Scene Laura looks into the bright black eyes of an Indian baby riding in its mother's basket and cries to Pa for the papoose.
The Indian Baby's Black Eyes Scene Laura looks into the bright black eyes of an Indian baby riding in its mother's basket and cries to Pa for the papoose. The baby looks back at her. Meaning The encounter is the culmination of Laura's wonder and sorrow. The papoose she once asked to see passes forever out of her reach. Aftermath Laura cannot explain why she wants the baby, but the image of its black eyes becomes her most profound childhood memory.
Excitement Inside the Covered WagonExcitement Inside the Covered Wagon from "Little House on the Prairie". Excitement Inside the Covered Wagon Scene As the family rolls away from the little house, Laura feels excited inside.
Excitement Inside the Covered Wagon Scene As the family rolls away from the little house, Laura feels excited inside. She tells herself that when traveling in a covered wagon, you never know what will happen next. Meaning The ending keeps wonder alive even after the loss. Laura's childhood imagination turns the open road into a promise rather than a defeat. Aftermath The story leaves Laura facing the future with the same curiosity that first made her want to see a papoose.
early in the westward journey
on the first night after the creek crossing
the afternoon Pa takes the girls to the empty camp
as the tribes ride away from the prairie
the last sentences of the story, after the house is gone